Author Topic: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber  (Read 1950 times)

Offline Eric122

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Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« on: March 22, 2010, 08:33:37 PM »
Heres an article I found on this russian bomber. We need at least 1 Large russian bomber in WW2.

Ilyushin IL-4
 
One of the great bombers of the war which can be termed as a “Forgotten Aircraft”, the Ilyushin IL-4 was overshadowed in Western thinking by the British and American aircraft. In spite of this, well over 5,000 IL-4s were produced between 1937 and 1944. The system was a commendably success. Its design was sound although a poor defensive armament array ultimately led to high and unacceptable losses to the extent that production was completed by 1944. Still, it kept serving till the end of the war.


The original prototype of this low-wing twin-engine bomber, was designated the TsKB-26. It started its flying in 1935, was developed through the TsKB-30. It entered into actual production in 1937 as the DB-3B. DB was a Russian acronym for Long Range Bomber.


Earlier versions were carrying 571kW M-85 engines, but got replaced by 716kW M-86s in 1938. It had a tough and simple design but the aircraft suffered from a poor defensive mechanism of a single nose, dorsal and ventral 7.62mm guns. In 1939 a modified version with lengthened nose and as more armored version (the DB-3F) appeared. In 1940, it was designated as IL-4. Each wing had engines, and the cockpit was located right between them. The nose section offered good visibility that helped its cause. Crew accommodated four personnel. Armaments were mounted in the nose, the dorsal turret position and a ventral gun position. Though where the defensive side of the IL-4 failed, the offensive nature of the system was just unbeatable with up to three 1,102lb torpedoes which could carry a standard limit of 2,205 pounds of drop bombs.


The aircraft in service took part in the attack on Berlin. Few variants existed but all were pretty identical to the original production. Each variant had improved armament capabilities.




Specifications


Crew: 4 (pilot, navigator, gunner/wireless-operator, rear gunner)
Length: 14.80 m (48 ft 6.75 in)
Wingspan: 21.44 m (70 ft 4.5 in)
Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5.5 in)
Wing area: 66.7 m² (718 ft²)
Empty weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 11,300 kg (24,912 lb)
Engine: 2× Tumansky M-88B radial engines, 820 kW (1,100 hp) each
Maximum speed: 430 km/h (232 kn, 267 mph)
Range: 3,800 km (2,052 nmi, 2,361 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,700 m (31,825 ft)
Armament: 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns
1 × 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun
Up to 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of bombs or mines. Alternatively, 1 × 940 kg (2,072 lb) 45-36-AN or 45-36-AV torpedo. Very rarely, 2 × BETAB-750DS 305mm rockets.





 
source:http://www.world-war-2-planes.com/Ilyushin-IL-4.html

 
 

Offline guncrasher

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2010, 08:37:07 PM »
sounds like a goon with a couple of bombs.

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Offline Motherland

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2010, 08:39:24 PM »
The DB-3/Il-4 was one of the most important Soviet bombers, particularly in the earlier parts of the war.

Offline Eric122

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2010, 08:41:15 PM »
there are "large" bombers for every other country except Russia. Why not a russian bomber sort of like the b25

Offline BrownBaron

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2010, 09:35:41 PM »
I beg to differ! Where's my facist Italian heavy bomber?
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Offline Karnak

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2010, 09:47:16 PM »
I beg to differ! Where's my facist Italian heavy bomber?
They never had one in squadron service.  And Italy is a minor player compared to Russia.
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Offline Rino

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2010, 10:50:16 PM »
They never had one in squadron service.  And Italy is a minor player compared to Russia.

     Wasn't the Piaggio P-108 in squadron service?  Admittedly in small numbers and with a fairly
high percentage of operational losses.
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Offline Karnak

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2010, 11:06:00 PM »
    Wasn't the Piaggio P-108 in squadron service?  Admittedly in small numbers and with a fairly
high percentage of operational losses.
So far as I know a total of 24 of the bomber version were built, so they may have been at squadron strength, or they may have been used in dribs and drabs, never reaching full quadron strength due to losses.  Something like 15 of the transport versions were built.

Compare that to the approximately 1350 SM.79s built and there is no way that the P.108 can be justified as the Italian bomber in AH, when one is added.
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Offline RaptorL

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2010, 07:00:47 AM »
+

Offline Rino

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2010, 07:29:00 AM »
So far as I know a total of 24 of the bomber version were built, so they may have been at squadron strength, or they may have been used in dribs and drabs, never reaching full quadron strength due to losses.  Something like 15 of the transport versions were built.

Compare that to the approximately 1350 SM.79s built and there is no way that the P.108 can be justified as the Italian bomber in AH, when one is added.

Since when do we have to "justify" an addition to the planeset?  Alot of folks here have strong opinions on
what is "needed", it doesn't mean that other additions are somehow disqualified.  Any addition is a good
thing, period.
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Offline Krusty

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2010, 09:53:03 AM »
So you're saying the German Amerika Bomber would be a good addition? Despite the fact that it had NO hope of ever making it off paper, let alone off the European continent, and hadn't a fart's chance in the wind of making it to the US during WW2's time frame?

Then let's not forget the tool that kept requesting B-2 stealth bombers, F/A-18s, etc.


Yes, you have to justify them.

Offline Reschke

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #11 on: March 23, 2010, 10:29:22 AM »
To me the IL-4 actually looks a lot like the Jap Ki-67

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia---Air/Ilyushin-Il-4/1146416/M/

At least from the front it does...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-67
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Offline Krusty

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2010, 10:30:54 AM »
It's a bit more ungainly. Ki67 has more of a cigar shape, whereas the Il4 is more squared off and has this ungainly "hump" right where the cockpit is.

Some more angles of it here:
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2002/february/aviation/il4.htm

Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2010, 12:31:13 PM »
The IL-4 would be a great addition and would help fill in the gap for an early/mid war bomber medium bomber.


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Offline gyrene81

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Re: Ilyushin IL-4 bomber
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2010, 12:54:37 PM »
Finally Eric makes a logical post... :aok
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